WTO disputes with U.S. about labeling in Hong Kong
2022.12.21 12:50
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WTO disputes with U.S. about labeling in Hong Kong
Budrigannews.com – The World Exchange Association found on Wednesday that the US had disregarded worldwide exchanging decides by demanding that items imported from Hong Kong be set apart as coming from China, a decision dismissed as “imperfect” by Washington.
The United States of America treated Hong Kong, a separate WTO member, in the same way it had been treated before it was taken over by the British in July 1997 until 2020.
After that, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order requiring the change. Washington argued that China’s territory did not have enough autonomy to warrant a different treatment than China’s. At the end of 2020, the order went into effect.
The United States violated an obligation to Hong Kong by treating it less favorably than other WTO members in terms of product marks of origin, according to a three-person WTO adjudicating panel.
The United States of America claimed to have used an exception that allowed for measures to safeguard a nation’s “essential security interests.”
Although the panel acknowledged that tensions between Hong Kong and the United States had increased, they did not yet reach the “emergency in international relations” threshold necessary to apply the exception.
The United States should bring its measure into compliance with global trading rules, the panel concluded its 96-page report.
The United States stated that it did not intend to eliminate the marking requirement and strongly rejected the panel’s “flawed” interpretation and conclusions.
Adam Hodge, a spokesperson for the U.S. Trade Representative, stated in a statement, “The U.S. action responded to highly concerning actions by the People’s Republic of China to erode Hong Kong, China’s autonomy, and the democratic and human rights of its people, threatening U.S. national security interests.”
The decision was welcomed by the government of Hong Kong, which stated that it confirmed the territory’s unique status as a distinct customs territory.
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Algernon Yau, secretary for commerce and economic development, stated in a statement, “The revised origin marking requirement is politically motivated and a vain attempt to interfere with Hong Kong’s internal affairs through weaponizing trade.”
